Monument record 10357 - Medieval Road with Median Drain, Royal Infirmary

Extensive archaeological remains dating from Roman to post medieval times were recorded during 1998 excavations at the Royal Infirmary, building upon earlier archaeological work carried out in 1992 (ECH3601) (1). The largest feature of medieval date was a 24m length of finely constructed road, was sealed by post medieval soil accumulation (CHER 10382). The road ran in a north-north-west by south-south-east direction, and at its northern end, turned at a right angle to the east. Set onto a sandy bedding deposit, he eastern side of the carriageway was edged with red sandstone blocks and occasional cobbles, while the western half was less well preserved; the southern part was constructed almost entirely of sandstone, and the northern part was mainly cobbles (1)

The full width of the road is estimated at 3.3m, and it sloped inwards from the sides to a central drainage channel, in which medieval pottery was found. The central drain shifts position slightly to the east where the construction material of the road changes. The road had been subject to several repairs, and the excavators state that it may have been in use up to the eighteenth century (1, 2, 3).

<1> Malcom Reid, 1998, Chester Royal Infirmary Archaeological Excavation 1998 (DRAFT) (Unpublished Report). SCH6699.

<2> Nenk B. Margeson S & Hurley M, 1999, Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1998 (Article in Journal). SCH5641.

<3> Chester Archaeology, 1998, Dig News (Newsletter). SCH6352.

<4> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 1998, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6019.